Examination, operating, or treatment table.



E. w. THOMAS. EXAMINATION, OPERATING, QR TREATMENT TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1908; k I

' Patented May 4, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED-JULY 27, 1908- 7 920,500, Patented May 4, 1909.

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EXAMINATION, ()PEBATING, OR TREATMENT TABLE.

5p eciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4., 1909.

Application filed July 27, 1908. Serial No. 445,511.

To aid whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E1: N. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have ii'ivented anew and useful Examination, Operating, or Treatment Table, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention consists of an examination, operating or treatment table, in which rovislon is made for readily placing a patient thereon either on back, front or side in a most convenient manner, without occasioning any suffering, without disarranging the garments, and without any special effort on the part of the patient.

It also consists of means for converting the couch. into a seat.

It also consists of details of construction as will be hereinafter set forth.

For the purpose of explaining the invention, the accompanying drawing illustrates a satisfactory reduction of the same to practice, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a rear View thereof. Figs. 3 and 4; represent vertical sections of detached portions thereof, showing certain members in different positions. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of another detached portion. Fig. 6 represents a partial vertical section and partial side elevation of a detached portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures. 7

Referring to the drawings :A designates a base or stand, on which is stationary head B, in whose periphery are recesses C to receive the dog D,'which depends from the arm E on the bracket F, with which latter is pivotally connected as at G a table which is of the form of the couch H, said bracket being rotatably mounted on the vertical axle or post F, whose lower end, in the present case, has said head connected with it, and the latter is sustained on and secured to the base A in any suitable manner, it being seen that the couch is firmly supported and may be rotated freely for the purposes of the operator, it being seen that when the rotary adjustment of he couch is accomrecess "C and tightened by the screw D,

whereby the further rotary movement of the.

couch is controlled. Furthermore, the couch H, owing to the pivots G, may be placed in inclined, horizontal and comparatively vertical positions, as shown in Fig. 1, and held thereat by the link J, which is pivotally connected with the frame of the couch as at K and is engaged by the screw L, the latter being fitted to the arm E andserving to hold said link, and consequently the couch, in the horizontal, inclined, andcomparatively vertical positions in which the latter may be placed. u The couch H is composed of a frame M, the stationary cushion N, and the movable cushion P, the latter being adapted to be a continuity of said cushion N, as in Figs. 1 and 3, or converted into a seat, as in Fig, 4:.

The frame of the cushion P has its side bars Q movably fitted within the side bars of the frame M of thecushion N, said bars Q having therein, at what may be termed their upper ends, the slots R, whose ends are deflected in angular form, as at S, said slots being adapted to receive the pins or studs T, which project inwardly from the sides of the frame M of the cushion N, it.

being noticed that the cushion P may be moved on said pins and the latter occupy either ofthe angular ends-S of the slots B, it being noticedthat what may be termed the forward. or upper portions of the fra IQ; Q of the cushion P extend beyond thelatt'er and form tongues U, which, are adapted to slide on the studs or pins P and to be placed under. the adjacent end of the cushion N, said cushion P then resting on the frame M and being practically a continuity of the cushion N, the lower ends S of the slots R receiving the pins T.

lVhen it is deslred to convert the cushion Pinto a seat, the cushion is drawn down, when the tongues U emerge from under the cushion N and said tongues slide on the pins T, when the latter occupy the upper or forward ends S of the slots R. The cushion P is then turned on the pins T as hinges and caused to assume a horizontal position, thusconverting it intoa seat, which sustained by the cross-bar V, which is supported by side bars V. the latter being pivotally connected with the frame M. as at W, said cross bar adapted to engage with the notched. or toothed block Y on the underside of the frame Q of the cushion P, it being evident that the bar V may be disengaged from said block and folded in the frame M, after which the cushion P may be lowered and folded on said frame, it changing its position from that shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Figs. 1 and Secured to and depending from the lower end of the frame M by the hangers X is the step or footrest X, which is just above the floor level and used primarily for placing the patienton the couch so as to occupy both cushions thereof, as will be explained further. This step is supported by hangers X that are offset rearwardly with relation to the couch frame, as seen clearly in Fig. 1, so that when the patient stands upon the step for the purpose of turning over, under which circumstances the parts would be in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the step is firmly supported upon the floor and overturning of the chair is positively prevented. The hangers X are laterally separated so that the portions of the feet of the patient may enter between the same, while other portions may rest on the step,

cspeciallywhile the patient lies face down on the couch.

It will be seen that when the couch is in the vertically inclined position, shown in Fig. 1, the patient steps on the foot rest X and lies against the couch, say on his back, and then the latter is placed in horizontal position, or comparatively so, for the convenience of the operator. When the work is so far accomplished, the couch is restored to the inclined position and the patient turns on the foot rest and then lies against the couch on his or her stomach. Then the couch is placed in horizontal position, or comparatively so, for the convenience of the operator, or by following the above procedure the patient may be placed on his or her side, itbeing seen that the patient has been turned most conveniently and without [lisarrangement of the garments and without the physical suffering or annoyance as heretofore occasioned in turning a patient by rolling him.over or being rolled over on the couch.

The step or foot rest X is mounted on the caster or other rollers Y, which rest on the floor, by which provision the device is sustained, when the foot rest is occupied, and so receives the weight of the patient, preventing ofthe tilting and overturning of the device while allowing the step to run on the floor while being supported thereon as the table is moved around.

In order to sustain the couch in horizontal, or comparatively horizontal positions, I employ the leg Z, which is pivotally connected with the frame M and adapted to be placed in upright position, resting on the floor, said leg being telescopically constructed so as to be adjustable in length. When use of said leg is not required, it may be folded on the frame M, and'held stationarily thereon by the resilient keeper or catch Z, which is connected with said frame and is adapted to have said leg sprungthereinto.

Attention is directed to the fact that the foot rest X is separate from the couch proper, and while possessing the advantages hereinbefore stated, removes the shoes of the patient from contact with the cushions of the couch, thus saving the latter from wear and injurious action of the shoes.

The couch may beprovided with gynecological attachinents, one of which is shown at H, Figs. 1 and 2. In this case, the stirrup ends of the attachment may be used as a handle, by which the inclination of the table or couch may be varied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a table of the character stated, a couch, a step-supporting. means depending from the frame thereof, a step secured to said means and extending forwardly therefrom substantially at a rlght angle thereto, and means on saidstep for supporting it on a floor parallel therewith when the frame occupies an inclined position.

2. In a table of the character stated, a

couch, hangers depending from the frame thereof and extending rearwardly and 0E- set, a step secured to said hangers substantially at a right angle thereto and extendin forwardly therefrom, and means on sai step for supporting it on a floor parallel therewith when the frame occupies an inclined position, said hangers being laterally separated to allow the feet of the patient to enter between the same with portions resting on said step.

3. In a table of the character stated, a frame mounted to turn from a horizontal to a substantially vertical position, step-supporting devices offset rearwardly and secured to the lower end of said frame and depending therefrom, and a step mounted on said devices and extending to the rear and in front of the longitudinal plane of said frame, said step being disposed at a distance from the end of the frame admitting of the occupant of the step turning thereon without leaving the table and preventing the feet of the occupant from contacting with said frame, and means for holding said frame in both its substantially vertical and horizontal positions.

4. In a table of the character stated, a frame pivotally mounted to assume either a horizontal or a substantially vertical position, a cushion having its side bars movably fitted within the side bars of the frame and having at their upper ends slots with their ends deflected in angular form, pins projecting inwardly from the side bars of theframe and received in said slots and adapted to automatically lock said cushion parallel with or at an angle to said frame, the upper portions of the side bars of said cushion extendproject, whereby when the two cushions are. in alinementthey form practically a continuity one of the other.

5. In a table of the character stated, a couch adapted to be placed in nearly vertical and horizontal positions, asta'nd, a carrier for the couch rotatably mounted on said stand, a head supported on said stand and provided with recesses, a dog adapted to engage either of said recesses, a s port on said carrier for said dog, means or pivotally connecting the couch with said carrier, and means connected with the couch and l with the free endof said support for retaining the couch in inclined and horizontal i positions.

6. In. a table of the, character stated, a base, a post and stationary head at the upper end of said base, a bracket rotatably mounted on said 0st, a lateral arm rigid with said bracket, a epending dog supported by said arm and provided with a ti htenin'gdevice, said dogengaging said hea a couch ivotally mounted on said bracket, a slotte link pivotally mounted upon the rear of theframe of the couch, and means carried by the free end of said arm and engaging theslot of'the link to hold the couch in its adjusted positions.

EB W; THOMAS."

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, HARRY C. DALTON. 

